Sticks and stones may break my bones but words may never hurt me... Anyone ever heard that? Anyone believe that it's true? I don't. Upon saying that I don't believe this, I've had people say, well, words can't hurt you physically... I don't believe that either. Words can hurt, they do hurt... if a person is hurt badly emotionally, and it can cause them physical pain. The spread of certain words, more commonly referred to as gossip can be detrimental to a person's emotions, their reputation, their job, their family, their spirit, and their body.
The dictionary defines "gossip" as idle talk of rumor; especially about the personal or private affairs of others. We've all been guilty of gossip. We Christians like to get our gossip in under the disguise of prayer concerns. I'd be willing to bet that we've all been the topic of gossip. In most cases, the rumors that we're discussing are a tiny bit of truth wrapped into a gigantic burrito of lies. And yet, we spread it anyway...
Remember the words test? I need to be reminded of it... true, kind, necessary. How are we using our words? Are we speaking things that are true, kind, and necessary? Or are we speaking things that aren't true, that are unkind, and that are better left unsaid? I am guilty of not taking the words test... I'm guilty of saying things that are almost always true but they don't measure up as being kind and almost never are the necessary.
I have been the topic of gossip recently. I can tell you with absolute certainty that the "sticks and stones" saying isn't true. I can also tell you that most of the gossip being spread isn't true. Which brings me to my next point. What do we believe? Do our actions line up with what our mouths say that we believe? If we say that we love God and all we do is slander others, then I would say, "No" our actions aren't lining up with what we say we believe. If you're standing in Wal Mart and someone you know comes over to tell you something about someone else that you know; do you stop them when you realize that what they are saying is false and correct them or do you probe for more and engage in idle rumors? How often do we forget the character of the people that we know? We allow others to degrade and disrespect people that we know to be of high moral character when what we should do is cut them off and say, I know that person, that's not who they are and if you have a problem with them, let's go confront it with them present. If we all handled our words that way, a lot less people would be walking around wounded.
I am the first to admit that I am guilty of all of the above. However, I am choosing, daily, to the let the Holy Spirit lead me, direct me, and guide me... my thoughts, my actions, and especially my words. I know I will fail at some point and I'm thankful that I serve a loving, forgiving God who if faithful to forgive me when I do. When we focus on Him, allow our hearts to be filled with His Spirit, and meditate on His word, we are more apt to speak and act in a way that is pleasing to Him; and as Christians, isn't that what we want? To live a life that is pleasing to Him and one that makes others want to know Him?
"Therefore, put to death what belongs to your world nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God's wrath comes on the disobedient. and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. But now you must also put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old self and it's practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, God's chosen, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. Above all, put on love- the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of the the Messiah to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts, and be thankful." Colossians 3:5-15
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